2025 Compare Cities Education:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Cary, NC

Change Cities
Highlights
- Cary spends 29.0% less per student than Santa Cruz.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 30.8% lower in Cary than in Santa Cruz. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Cary had 0.9% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Santa Cruz
 Santa Cruz, CACary, NCUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$11,618$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$13,552  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$6,316$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio21.84  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock8294573
 Students per Counselor473  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock1.4%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.1.9%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock96.6%88.9%
 Some College Educ.19.7%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock6.5%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.56.6%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock23.3%9.3%
 Professional Degree4.9%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock4.9%1.5%
Reviews for Santa Cruz    44 Reviews

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

   |    Reply

Over 5 years ago

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

   |    Reply

I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Cruz

Reviews for Cary    63 Reviews

Cary is up-and-coming “cool.” The downtown is revitalized and growing. The town takes urban planning very seriously. The home prices have definitely spiked in the last  More

   |    Reply

Over 8 years ago

I've lived in NY, CT, MA, and in Miami FL. Now here in Cary NC for the past 10 years. For what I want and need at this phase of my life, I really like it here! All the  More

   |    Reply

Over 8 years ago

As a Real Estate Agent, I consider Cary the most central location in the Triangle, it basically takes you twenty minutes to get to Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough,   More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Cary


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.